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May 30. 1933. c. G. HARWIG TRAIN ANNUNCIATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 1951 Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARL G. HARWIG, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOR TO' THE. UNION SWITCH &; SIGNAL COMPANY, OF .SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA TRAIN ANN UN GIATING APPARATUS Application filed January 22, 1931. Serial No. 510,404.

My invention relates to train annunciating apparatus, that is, to apparatus for annunciating or indicating the movements of trains in a despatchers oflice or other central location.

I will describe one'form' of apparatus em bodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view, showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the reference characters 1 and 1 designate the rails of a stretch of railway track, a portion of which is insulated by joints 2from adjacent portions to form, a section CD.- Section GD is provided with a track circuit, including a track relay E connected across the rails adjacent one end of the section, and a battery 3 connected across the rails adjacent the opposite end of the section.

Placed in a central location, such, for example, as a despatchers oflice, is a code device, here shown as a manually controlled code key M. Code key M comprises a code wheel 4 for operating a normally open contact 6in such manner that when the key is wound up, the consequent movement of the code wheel periodically closes and opens contact 6 during one revolution of wheel 4. This opera-, tion of contact 6 causes a battery 5 to supply a series of current impulses of a distinctive code to line wires 7 and 8 which comprise the despatchers telephone line. Code keys of this type being well known in the art, further detailed description of their construction is omitted from this application.

The series of current impulses supplied by battery 5, as just described, energizes winding 9 of a selector H which thereupon closes its normally open contact 10. After a brief pe riod of time, contact 10 opens.

During the closed period of contact 10, a cut-in stick relay P becomes energized, and, in turn, a station selector stick relay V also becomes energized. During the energization of relays P and V, the primary winding 26 of an induction coil Gris energized, causing secondary winding 28 of coil G to supply current to line wires 7 and 8 for energizing the despatchers telephone receiver N. The despatcher is thus informed, by an audible indication, that selector H has responded to his operation of code key M.

Relay P is energized only until contact 10 of selector H opens. Relay V, however, continues energized, causing a first control relay T to become energized when track relay E becomes deenergized as by a'train entering section C-D. A second control relay R is normally energized while relayT is deenergized, but becomes deenergized when relay T picks up. A third control relay J and a fourth control relay Kare also normally deenergized. When relay R becomes deenergized whilerelay K'is deenergized, relay J becomes energized. Upon the energization of relay J, a relay B becomes energized. Relay B is the first relay in a chain of counting relays which become successively energized, and which are designated B B, B 13 etc., according to the order in which they become energized. When relay B closes its front contacts, relay K becomes energized;

- The successive energization of relays B B-, B and 13*- causes four current impulses to be correspondingly successively supplied to induction coil G. With the apparatus arranged as here-shown, the first of these impulses will be long, for reasons which will be explained hereinafter, and the succeeding three impulses will be short. These four current impulses will produce an audible indication in the despatchers receiver N, comprising four parts, the durations of which correspond to the durations of the four current impulses, respectively.

, The periods of the different impulses depend upon the time required for the opera tions of various relays," and, forpurposes of explanation, I have assumed definite values for certain relays, but it should be understood that these values are not essential, but are mentioned only by way of illustration. It is desired that the r-elaysshould operate as rapidly as possible, and, for measuring the intervals required, the ordinary unit of one second is too long to be convenient. For purposes of illustration, therefore, it is condo i operated.

' R is energized.

venient to measure these time intervals by referring them to cycles of alternating current of commercial frequency, such, for example, as 60 cycles per second. With this explanation in mind, I shall assume that the pick-up times for relays J, K, R, T and each relay B are substantially the same and equal approximately one cycle of alternating current of the frequency of 60 cycles per second. I shall further assume that relays R and T and each relay B of the counting chain have a release time of approximately four cycles, that relays J and K have a release time of approximately twelve cycles, and that relay V has a release time of at least three cycles. A cut-out relay Q is provided for the despatchers use in deenergizing relay V, if he so desires after he has caused relay V to become energized.

In the drawing, the contacts operated by the various relays are identified by numbers, such numbers having distinguishing exponents when the contacts are not shown adjacent the respective relays by which they are The exponent for each of these contact numbers comprises the reference character and the exponent for its relay, for example, the exponent B for contact 45 shown in thepick-up circuit for relay K, comprises the reference character B and its exponent 1 for relay 'B which operates contact 45 Iaving thus described, in general, the arrangement and operation of the apparatus embodying my invention, I will now trace in detail the operation of'the various parts.

is shown in the drawing, all parts of the apparatus are in their normal condition, that is, track section CD is unoccupied and relay With track section CD unoccupied, relay E is energized. All other relaysare deenergized. The circuit for relay R passes from terminal of a source of current not shown in the drawing, through back contact 38 of relay T, and the winding of relay R to terminal 0.

I will now assume that the despatcher desires to be informed when a train enters section CD. In order to put the apparatus in condition to supply him with such information, he will operate codekey M. A series of current impulses will then flow according to a given code, which is determined by the design of code wheel 4, passing from battery 5,

--' through contact 6 operated by code key M,

line wire 7, winding 9 of selector H, and line wire 8 back to battery 5. Selector H thereupon closes its contact 10 and so completes a pick-up circuit for relay P passing from terminal a throughwires 11 and 12, back contact 13 of relay V, back contact 14 of relay Q, and the winding of relay P to terminal 0. Relay P, becoming thus energized, completes its stick circuit passing from terminal w,

' through contact of selector H, contact 15 of relay P, and the winding of relay P to terminal 0. Relay P, upon becoming energized, also completes a pick-up circuit for relay V passing from terminal as, through contact 16 of relay P, and the winding of relay V to terminal 0. Relay V, upon becoming energized, completes its own stick circuitpassing' from terminal :0, through contact 17 contact 18 of relay Q, contact 19 of relay V, and the winding of relay V to terminal 0.

With relays P and V energized, a circuit is completed for primary winding 26 of induction coil G passing from terminal w,

through contact 23 of relay V, contact 24 winding 26 of coil G, and contact 27 of coil G to terminal 0. Secondary winding 28 of coil G therefore supplies current to wires 7 and 8, producing an audible cut-in indication in the despatchers receiver N. After a brief period of time, contact 10 of selector H opens, causing relay P to become deenergized and open its contact 24 thus breaking the circuit for winding 26-of coil G and interrupting the cut-in indication of receiverN.' 7

If, for some reason, the despatcher should afterward desire to prevent an indication being given of the subsequent occupation of section C-D by a train, he will again'operate code key M. Selector H, responding to this operation of code' key M, will then complete a pick-up circuitfor relay Q, passing from terminal m, through contact 10 of selector I-I, wires 11" and 12, contact 20 of relay V, contact 21 ofrelay P, and the winding of relay Q to terminal 0. Relay Q, becoming thus energized completes its stick circuit passing from terminal w,.through contact 10 of selector H, wire 11, contact 22 of relayQ, and the winding of relay Q, to terminal 0. With relays Q and V energized, a circuit is completed for winding 26 of coil 'G passing from: terminal w, through contact 23 of relay V, contact 25 winding 26 of COil'Gr, and contact 27 of coil G to terminal 0. Secondary Winding 28 of coil .G therefore supplies line Wires 7 and 8 with current to produce a cut-out indication in the despatchers receiver N. Upon the lapse of the release period of relayV after relay Q, opens contact 18 in the stick circuit for relay V, the front contactsof relay V will open, and hence the circuit for winding 26 of coil G will be interrupted, causing the cut-out indication in receiver N to be discontinued. After a brief-period of time, contact 10 of selectorH'will open, causing relay Q, to also become deenergized.

I will now assume that the despatcher again operates code key M, causing relays P andiV to again become energized. with relay V energized, a train enters section 0-1), a circuit will be completed for relayT passing from terminal 00, through contact '29 of relay V, back contacts 31 32 33 36 and 37 of relay E, and the Winding of relay T to terminal 0. Upon the lapse of a. period of time of one cycle duration after contact 37 of relay E completes the pick-up circuit for relay T, relay T opens its back contact 38 and closes its front contact 35. Upon the lapse of a period of time of four cycles duration after the opening of contact 38, relay R permits its contact39 to fall fromrits front point to its back point. A circuit is'thereby completed for relay J passing from terminal m, through contact 39 at its back point, contact 40 of relay K at its back point, back contacts 68m, 69 71 and the Winding of relay J to terminal 0. After one cycle of time, relay J closes its front contacts. Contact 42 becoming closed, completes a circuit for relay B passing from terminal w, through back point of contact 39 of relay R, back contact 41 of relay K, contact 42 and the Winding of relay B to terminal 0.

After one cycle of time, relay B opens its back contacts and closes its front contacts. Relay B by opening its back contact 68 breaks the circuit for relay J Which, upon the lapse of twelve cycles of time, permits its front contacts to open. Relay B upon closing its contact 30 at its front point, completes a branch path for the circuit for relay T passing from the front point of contact 30 through Wire 72,-contact 34 of relay J, and contact 35 of relay T to contact 36 Relay T, therefore, continues ener ized until contact 34 of relay J opens. Relay 13, upon becoming energized, also completes a pick-up circuit for relay K passing from terminal w, through contact 45 contact 46 and the Winding of relay K to terminal 0. Relay K is provided With a front contact 47 which, upon closing, opens back contact 41 of relay K. Relay K, upon becoming energized, completes its own stick circuit passing from terminal :22, through back contact 39 of relay R, contact 47 of relay K, and Winding of relay K to terminal 0. Relay K, upon becoming energized, opens, at its contact 41, the pick-up circuit previously traced for relay 13 but at the same time completes a stick circuit for relay B7 passfrom terminal :0, through back contact 39 of relay R, contact 43 of relay K, front contact 44 of relay B and the Winding'of relay B to terminal 0.

On account of relay T continuing energized by its circuit including the branch path previously traced, relay R continues deenergized, and relays K and B continue energized causing a circuit for Winding 26 of coil G to be closed for a comparatively long period of time. This circuit passes from terminal m, through contact 64 Winding 26 of coil G, and contact 27 of coil G to terminal 0. Secondary Winding 28 of coil G therefore causes a sound to be. produced in receiver N for a comparatively long period.

When contact 34of'relay J opens, relay T becomes deenergized and, upon the lapse of a period of four cycles of time, opens its front contact 35 and closes 'its back contact 38.v

After one cycle of time, relay R opens its back contact 39, thereby breaking the stick circuit for relay B Relay R, upon closing its front contact 39, completes a pick-upcircuit for relay B passing from. terminal 00, through front contact 39 of relay R, contact 48 of relay K, contact 49 of relay B andits contact 64 discontinues the sound in' re-- ceiver N which has lasted for a period of 21 cycles.v Relay B uponclosing its back contact 68 completes a. second pick-up circuit for relay J passing froni'terminal'w, through frontcontact 39 of relayR, frontcontact 40 of relay K, contacts '68 69 70 71 and the winding of relay J to terminal 0. This operation of relay J has, however, no significance in the subsequent operationof the apparatus.

Relay B on closing its'back contact 30 again completes the pick-up circuitfirst traced for relay T, causing relay T to again open its contact 38 and close its contact 35 after thelapse of one' cycle of time. Relay R, becoming deenergized by the opening of contact 38, opens its front contact 39 andcloses its back contact 39 aftera lapse of four cycles of time, thereby breaking the stick circuit forrelay B and completing a pick-' up circuit for relay B passing from terminal w, through-back contact 39 of relay R, contact 43 of relay K, back contact 44 of relay B contact 51of relay B, and vv'inding'of' relay B to terminal 0-. 7

Relay B upon becoming energized, completes its stick circuit passing from terminal a", through back contact 39 of relay R, contact 43 of relay K, front contact 52 of relay B and the Windingof relay B to terminal 0. Relay B upon closing its contact 65 completes a'fourth circuit for Winding 26 of coilG passing from terminal a, through contact 65 Winding 26 of coil G, and contact 27 of coil G to terminal 0. finding 28 of coil Gr thereupon causes a second sound impulse to be produced in receiver N.

Upon the lapse of four cycles of time after the opening of front contact 39 of relay R breaks the stick circuit for relay B frontcontacts -and 51 of relay B 'open, and back contact 50 closes. Y i

Relay B upon opening its back contact 31 breaks the circuit for relay T which then, becoming deenergized, causesrelay R to again become energized and complete a pickup circuit for relay 13 passing from terminal 00 through front contact 39 of relay R, contact 48 of relay K, back contact 50 of relay B contact 53 of relay B and the winding of 13 to terminal 0. -Relay B upon becoming energized, completes its stick circuit passing from terminal at, through front contact 39 of relay R, contact 48 of relay K, front contact 54 and relay 13 and the winding of relay B to terminal 0.

Upon the lapse of four cycles of time after the opening of back contact 39 of relay R in the stick circuit for relay E the front contacts of relay B open, and the back contacts of this relay close. Relay B upon opening its front contact breaks thecircuit for winding 26 of coil G, thereby discontinuing the second impulse of sound in receiver LT, the duration of which is 9 cycles.

The subsequent operation of the apparatus causing relays B and B to become energized is similar to that already described in connection with relay B The operation of the apparatus causing relay B to become ener gized is similar to that described in connect on with relay B Relay B in turn, becomes energized by a pick-up circuit which is similar to the pick-up circuits for relays B and B. Relay B, upon becoming energized, opens its back contact 36 in the circuit for relay T which is, however, alread open at back contact 33 Relay B, by opening its back-contact 17 breaksthe stick circuit for relay V which is therebydeenergized. Relay 13, upon becoming energized, completes its stick circuit passing from term nal a, through back contactGQ contact 63 of relay B, and the winding of B to terminal 0. Upon the lapse of four cycles of time after relay R- has completed the pick-up circuit for relay B, relay B opens its front contacts and closes its back contacts.

From the foregoing description, it follows that the periods of time in connection with an audible indication produced when-a tra n enters section CD are:

1. Time from closing of contact 37 of relay E until first sound impulse starts in receiver N is 7 cycles.

2. Duration of first sound impulse, 21 cycles.

3. Interval between first and second sound impulses, 6 cycles.

4. Duration of second sound impulse, 9 cycles. 7 V i 5. lnterval between second and third sound impulses, 6 cycles. V

6. Duration of third sound impulse, 9 cycles.

it -7. Interval between third and fourth sound impulses, 6 cycles.

8. Duration of. fourth sound impulse, 9 cycles. t

Relay B continues energized by its stick circuit as long as section C D is occupied. Upon the lapse of twelve cycles of time after relay R has become energized on account of the opening of contact 33 in the circuit for relay T, relay .K will release. After twelve more cycles of time, relay J will also release.

When the train moves out of section C-D, relay E becomes energized, breaking the stick circuit for relay B which then permits its back'contact 36 to close, thus completing restoration of the apparatus to the normal condition. y l

With the arrangement which I have de-' scribed forapparatus embodying my invention, an audible indication, provided in the despatchers receiver N whena train enters section GD, comprises four parts, the first of which is long and the other three of which are short. In order to provide an audible indication for a second section distinguishable from the indication for section C-D, similar apparatus can be provided except that in the apparatus for the second section, wire 72, which connects contact 34 of relay J with the front point of contact 30 will be omitted, and instead of this wire another wire '72 will connect contact 34 with the front point'of contact 32 as shown in dash line in the drawing, or wire 72* can connect contact 34 with the front point of contact 31 or with the front point of contact 33 If wire 72 connects contact 34 with the front point of contact 32 as shown in dash'line, the first two parts of the audible indication will be short, the third part will be long, and the fourth part will be short. If wire 72 connects contact 34 with the front point of contact 31 the first part of the audible indication will be short, the second part will be long, and the third and fourth parts will be short. Similarly, if wire 72 connects contact 34 with the front point of contact 33 the first three parts'of the audible indication will be short, and the fourth part will be long.

A fifth indication can be provided by the apparatus shown, by omitting the branch path through contact 34 of relay J and contact 35 of relay T. This indication will consistof four parts, all of which will be short.

Other indications, distinguishable, from the five indications which I have already de scribed. by having two parts long and two parts short in various combinations, can be provided by apparatus in which contact 34 connected with the front points of two of the contacts 30 31 32 and 33 If, for example, wire 72 connects contact 34 with the front point of contact 30 and if, at the same time, wire 72 connects contact 34 with the front point of contact 32 as shown by the dash line, the first part of the indication will be long, the second part will be short, the third part will be long, and the fourth part short. By connecting contact 34: with the front points of three of these contacts, indications will be provided having three parts long and one part short.

The audible indications provided by apparatus embodying my invention are of very short duration, and will hence not appreciably interfere with telephone conversation over the same despatchers telephone line. Even if the indication should break into a telephone conversation, it would be automatically cut out after a second or so by the opening of contact 33 in the circuit for relay T.

If desired, code key M, battery 5, and selector H, together with relays P, Q and V, could be omitted, and the apparatus would then be cut in for providing an indication of track occupancy at any time; Where selectors are included in a system of this type, the selector control might be by individual stations or it might be by groups of three or four stations, the stations in each group being controlled by selectors which are responsive to the same code.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a stretch of railway track provided with a track circuit including a track relay, a first control relay, a second control relay controlled by a back contact of said first control relay, a third control relay, a fourth control relay, a pick-up circuit for said third control relay controlled by said second and fourth control relays, a chain of counting relays the first of which has a pick-up circuit controlledby said second and third as well as said fourth control relay, a pick-up circuit for said fourth control relay controlled by said third control relay and by said first counting relay, means controlled by said second and fourth control relays and by said first counting relay for controlling the remaining counting relays, means controlled by said counting relays and effective only when said track relay is deenergized for controlling said first control relay, a line circuit, and an indication device controlled by said counting relays for transmitting signals to said line circuit.

2. In combination, a stretch of railway track provided with a track circuit including a track relay, a first control relay, a second control relay controlled by said first control relay, a third control relay, a fourth control relay controlled by' said second and third control relays, means controlled by said second and fourth control relays for controlling said third control relay, a chain of counting relays controlled by said control relays to become successively energized, means controlledby said track relay and by said counting relays for controlling said first control relay, means controlled by said first and third control relays for causing one of said counting relays to be energized for a longer period than any of the others, a line circuit, and means controlled by said counting relays for transmitting a code signal to said line circuit inaccordance with the periods of energization of said counting relays.

3. In combination, a control device, a first and a second and a third relay, a pick-up circuit for said first relay controlled by said device and by said second and third relays, a pick-up circuit for said second relay controlled by said device and by said first and third relays, a stick circuit for each of said first and second relays controlled by said device, a pick-up circuit for said third relay controlled by said first relay, a stick circuit for said third relay controlled by said second relay, and an indication device controlled by a contact of said third relay in series with a contact of either said first or said second relay.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CARL G. HARWIG. 

